Sound is also crucial (many of cinema’s breakthrough sound and music design came in the Horror genre).

In other genres, a problem may be talked about, or acted out. In Horror, it’s embodied … by a monster. And it’s up to you how that monster looks, acts and sounds.

3. Popularity with audiences (and critics)

Horror is the most profitable genre of them all, and producers always want good, original Horror scripts. Many popular recent TV shows (HANNIBAL, BEING HUMAN, DEXTER) have strong horror aspects.

And lots of the movies that “break out” of their home territories and achieve international success are in the Horror genre (TROLLHUNTER, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, THE ORPHANAGE).

And when the films are good, the critics will also come on board; all these films were very well reviewed.

4. The Illustrious Tradition

Horror has no lack of cultural or intellectual credibility. Many great writers have contributed to the genre – from Daphne du Maurier, Susan Hill and Hilary Mantel to Charles Dickens, Franz Kafka and Honoré de Balzac (not forgetting Mary Shelley).

Join this gilded roll-call with your own contributions!

5. The Creative Challenge

Horror is an extremely malleable genre which gives writers the chance to reform the world and its possibilities at will. It also blends in interesting ways with other genres.

Think of David Cronenberg’s comment that his film THE BROOD was a more truthful account of a marriage break-up than KRAMER VS KRAMER.

The workshop will look at ways of making something new from this “blending” process.